Jennie, member of the K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, embarked on a solo journey with the release of her debut album, ‘Ruby,’ on March 7. This album marks a significant milestone in her career, showcasing her versatility and artistic depth.
Musical composition and collaborations
Ruby is a 15-track collection that melds pop, hip-hop, and R&B genres. The album features collaborations with prominent artists, including Childish Gambino, Doechii, Dominic Fike, FKJ, Dua Lipa, and Kali Uchis. Notably, Jennie co-wrote and co-produced the album alongside talents like El Guincho, Diplo, and Mike WiLL Made-It.
The album opens with “Intro: JANE with FKJ,” a serene instrumental piece that transitions into the energetic “like JENNIE,” produced by Diplo, blending phonk beats with assertive lyrics. Tracks like “start a war” delve into intense emotions, while “ZEN” offers art-pop elements with commanding drums. The song “Damn Right,” co-produced by Mike WiLL Made-It, stands out as a sultry collaboration featuring Kali Uchis and Childish Gambino, delivering hushed, seductive tones.
Critical reception
Critics have lauded Ruby for its cohesive sound and Jennie’s artistic evolution. Pitchfork’s Joshua Minsoo Kim highlighted the album’s sophisticated production and Jennie’s natural musicality, particularly praising tracks like “ZEN” and her collaborations with artists such as Dua Lipa and Childish Gambino. Euphoria Magazine described the album as “bold, cohesive, filled with bops, catchy verses, and choruses that will surely draw you in from the get-go.”
Regional, global commercial performance
Jennie made major moves in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) revealed on March 24 that ‘like JENNIE’ registered the highest new entry on The Official MENA, KSA, and UAE Charts in the Top 10, and entered the Top 20 on The Official NORTH AFRICA Chart between March 3 and 13, 2025.
On iTunes, ‘Ruby’ debuted atop the All-Genre chart in Egypt and Qatar, No. 3 in Lebanon, No.5 in Oman, and No. 9 in the UAE on the day of release.
In the US, it debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200, with 56,000 album-equivalent units sold in its first week. Of these, 26,500 were pure album sales, securing the number two spot on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart.